Consultative meetings with CSOs in Vojvodina
July 15, 2014
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
organized three consultative meetings with CSOs in Vojvodina over
the past two weeks. The meeting in Subotica of 7 July 2014 at the
Open University addressed extremism vs. political pluralism in the
multiethnic province of Vojvodina. Politicologist Pavel Domonji
spoke about various forms of extremism, such as racism, nationalism,
homophobia, antifeminism, etc, promoted by some 20-30 right-wing
extremist organizations in today’s Serbia. He also pointed out the
deficient mechanisms of control against extremist groups on the one
hand, and hate crimes and hate speech on the other. Mr. Domonji
specifically referred to right-wing extremists’ attitude towards
Vojvodina and their perception of it an “artificial creation” of the
communist era. Over the ensuing discussion the participants focused
on the youth and their disturbingly growing interest in extremist
groups and ideologies. It is against the backdrop of high
unemployment and grim cultural realities that young people in
Serbia, they concluded, are trying to find a safe haven for
themselves: unfortunately, they are turning to extremist groups and
ideologies. The media, the judiciary and CSO could play a major role
in curbing such adverse phenomena.
The meeting in Pancevo was organized on 10 July
2014 at the Pancevo Cultural Center. It discussed the “hookup”
between religion and extremist ideologies, the topic itself being
introduced by sociologist of religion Srdjan Barisic. Mr. Barisic
defined Serbia as the country stuck in the transition and
unsystematic, ad hoc reforms. He specifically referred to the Serb
Orthodox Church and its influence, and the stands it practically
shared with extremist groups – for example, its stands on Kosovo and
EU integration. Participants spoke about cases of extremism in
Pancevo and Vojvodina, and discussed the position of vulnerable
groups in their community.
The Novi Sad meeting was organized on 18 July 2014
in the premises of the Independent Journalists’ Association of
Vojvodina. This final consultative meeting with NGOs was focused on
historical revisionism and right-wing extremist organizations.
Historian Milivoj Beslin explained that historical revisionism was
only a logical outcome of extremist ideologies. He spoke about
various extremist movements throughout history, the leaders of which
have been glorified till the very day and whose legacy still
strongly influenced the supporters of extremist ideologies.
Participants discussed the manner in which the history of Serbia and
Yugoslavia were being interpreted, concluding that nationalism, as
practically the only ideology, was crucial for historical
distortions. The education system must be thoroughly reformed, said
the participants, so as to empower the young for critical thinking
about major topics such as dealing with the past and contemporary
history of Serbia.
All consultative meetings were meant to contribute
to the development of a civil society platform for monitoring the
cases of hate speech and hate crimes. Participating CSOs were
invited to join the platform and thus help to curb today’s extremist
ideologies.
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